Head Quarter Western Air Command, situated in Subroto Park, Delhi conducted a seminar on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) on May 14, 2018. The seminar was conducted to focus onto effective measures to deal with HADR situations in Northern region of India. Apart from the IAF participation, secretary level delegations from the states of Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttrakhand, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir have participated in the seminar. Major respondents to disaster situations like NDMA, NDRF and ITBP also attended the seminar.

In disaster situations, more often than not, the IAF is the first responder and kick starts the process of help to the affected population. To its credit, the IAF has not only national disaster relief operations like Op Madad – Chennai Cyclone, Op Rahat – Uttrakhand Flash Floods, Op Megh Rahat – Flood relief in J&K and relief operations at Andhra Pradesh during cyclone HUD HUD, it also has been carrying out relief actions in the international disaster situations like Evac of Indian Diaspora from Yemen, Op Maitri – earthquake relief at Nepal, cyclone relief at FIJI and flood relief in Sri Lanka. In most cases aircraft and personnel of Western Air Command have been the mainstay of these operations.

On the agenda are also discussions on National Perspective on Disaster Management & Capability Building and Enhancement of disaster relief for the attending states. Discussions on the response procedure using the IAF platforms was also held at the seminar.

The Senior Air Staff Officer of Western Air Command, Air Marshal NJS Dhillon during his address in the seminar said that, "I hope that by the end of the seminar we would have a clear understanding between all agencies involved in responding to a crisis situation at the earliest in an effective, efficient and economical manner. This would definitely reduce the loss of life and infrastructure during calamities"

HQ WAC has been conducting such seminars and demonstrations across its area of responsibility. The high level seminar culminated on May 15, 2018.

- PRO Palam

Air Marshal NJS Dhillon, Senior Air Staff Officer of Head Quarter Western Air Command along with other dignitaries in a group photograph during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) seminar.

Air Marshal NJS Dhillon, Senior Air Staff Officer of Head Quarter Western Air Command giving inaugural speech during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) seminar.

Air Marshal NJS Dhillon, Senior Air Staff Officer of Head Quarter Western Air Command felicitating dignitaries during Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) seminar.